US Concerned Over Bosnian Serb Attack on Bihac

Strategic Insights -

The United States has expressed strong concern over the Bosnian Serb attack on the northwestern Bosnian enclave of Bihac, which has led to a pushback of government forces and a possible escalation into a full-blown conflict. Fikret Abdic, the former leader of rebel forces in Bihac, is organizing a force of up to 5,000 rebel Muslims to fight alongside the Bosnian Serbs, while the U.N. reports that the Bosnian Serbs are advancing at a rate of approximately half a mile per day. The situation has been deemed "very, very worrisome" by the U.S. State Department, which is discussing possible actions with NATO allies and the U.N. Security Council.

Key Takeaways:

  • The U.S. is concerned about the Bosnian Serb attack on Bihac, which is pushing back government forces and potentially escalating into a full-blown conflict.
  • Fikret Abdic, the former leader of rebel forces in Bihac, is organizing a force of up to 5,000 rebel Muslims to fight alongside the Bosnian Serbs.
  • The U.N. reports that the Bosnian Serbs are advancing at a rate of approximately half a mile per day.
  • The U.S. State Department has deemed the situation "very, very worrisome" and is discussing possible actions with NATO allies and the U.N. Security Council.
  • The North Atlantic Council, NATO's ruling body, has discussed the possibility of declaring an exclusion zone around Bihac to protect the civilian population.
  • Bosnian President Alija Izetbegovic has asked the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Madeleine Albright, to seek action against the Bosnian Serb attack.
  • Senate Republican leader Bob Dole has added his voice to the condemnation of the U.N. and the European Union for pursuing "failed policies" in Bosnia-Herzegovina that paved the way for renewed ethnic Serb attacks against Bihac.
  • The U.S. is actively engaged in diplomacy with NATO and the U.N. Security Council to develop a response to the situation.

Statistics:

  • Up to 5,000 rebel Muslims are being organized by Fikret Abdic to fight alongside the Bosnian Serbs.
  • The U.N. reports that the Bosnian Serbs are advancing at a rate of approximately half a mile per day (800 meters).
  • The Bosnian Serbs are within 3 miles (5 km) of the town of Bihac.
  • The Bosnian government has lost control of the Grabez plateau, which is to the east of Bihac.

Sources:

  • State Department spokeswoman Christine Shelly
  • U.N. officials on the ground
  • Bosnian embassy in Washington
  • Senate Republican leader Bob Dole
  • The North Atlantic Council (NATO's ruling body)